Shrub rose plant named &#39;AAC576&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of shrub rose plant herein referred to by its cultivar name, ‘AAC576’, is provided that abundantly forms attractive very full red blossoms. The plant exhibits an upright and bushy growth habit. The foliage is medium green with a glossy finish. The red blossom coloration contrasts nicely with the medium green foliage. The plant is well suited for providing attractive ornamentation in the landscape.

Botanical/commercial classification:

Latin name: Rosa hybrida.

Common name: Shrub Rose Plant.

Varietal denomination: ‘AAC576’.

CROSS-REFERNCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Plant Breeders' Rights ApplicationNumber 16-8992, which was filed in Canada on Aug. 4, 2016, of which thecontent of is hereby expressly incorporated by reference in its entiretyfor all purposes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new and distinct variety of Rosa hybrida shrub rose plant wascreated by artificial pollination wherein two parents which previouslyhad been studied were crossed in the hope that they would contribute thedesired characteristics. The cross and selections were performed inManitoba, Canada. The female parent (i.e., the seed parent) of the newvariety was an unreleased and unpatented variety identified as ‘Y8’. Themale parent (i.e., the pollen parent) was the ‘Frontenac’ variety (U.S.Plant Pat. No. 9,210). The parentage of the new variety can besummarized as follows:

‘Y8’x ‘Frontenac’.

The initial cross was performed in 2001. The seeds resulting from theabove pollination were sown and small plants were obtained which werephysically and biologically different from one another. Seedlings fromthe cross were planted in an outdoor field in the Spring of 2002. In2003, seedlings were evaluated and a single seedling possessing desiredcharacteristics was identified. Initial cuttings of the selectedseedling were taken in 2004 and maintained in a greenhouse until 2006,when three plants were planted in an outdoor test bed at Morden,Manitoba, Canada. In 2010 and 2011, all of the selected material wasmoved to Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, Canada. In April 2011 the newvariety was moved to Vineland, Ontario along with other germ plasm foradditional evaluation.

Had the new variety not been discovered and preserved it would have beenlost to mankind. The new variety well meets the needs of thehorticulture industry and is particularly well suited for growing in thelandscape.

It was found that the new shrub rose plant of the present inventionpossesses the following combination of characteristics:

(a) abundantly and substantially continuously forms attractive very fullred blossoms,

(b) exhibits an upright and bushy growth habit,

(c) forms attractive medium green foliage with a glossy finish thatcontrasts well with the red blossom coloration, and

(d) is well suited for growing as attractive ornamentation in thelandscape.

The new variety well meets the needs of the horticultural industry andcan be grown to advantage in the landscape, including parks, gardens,public areas, and residential landscapes, where attractive ornamentationis to be provided.

The new variety can be readily distinguished from its ancestors. Morespecifically, while the new variety displays red colored flowers, the‘Frontenac’ variety (i.e., the pollen parent) displays dissimilarflowers which are commonly approaching Red-Purple Group 68B on the uppersurface when blooming and commonly approaching Read-Purple Group 70D onthe under surface when blooming and the ‘Y8’ variety (i.e., the seedparent) has a cupped bloom form while the new variety has a rosetteform. Additionally, the new variety can be readily distinguished fromother shrub rose plants such as the ‘Navy Lady’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat.No. 23,288). For instance, the ‘Navy Lady’ variety forms blossoms thatare full double in configuration and dark red in coloration, while thenew variety's blossoms are lighter red in coloration and very full inconfiguration when compared to ‘Navy Lady’. Additionally, the ‘NavyLady’ variety typically grows to approximately 2-3 feet in height, onaverage, while the new variety typically grows to approximately 4-5 feetin height, on average in 5 year old unpruned plants.

The characteristics of the new variety have been found at Manitoba,Canada, to be homogeneous and stable and to be strictly transmissiblefrom one generation to another by asexual propagation through therooting of cuttings. Accordingly, the new variety reproduces in atrue-to-type manner by such asexual propagation.

The new variety has been named ‘AAC576’, and is being marketed under theCANADIAN SHIELD Trademark.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photographs show as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same, in a color illustration of this character,typical specimens of the plant parts of the new variety. The illustratedrose plants of the new variety were approximately 1.5 years of age andwere observed during July 2017 while growing outdoors in 3 galloncontainers on their own roots since April, 2016 at Vineland Research andInnovations Centre Inc., located at Vineland Station, Ontario Canada.

FIG. 1—illustrates an abundantly flowering rose plant together withnicely contrasting medium green foliage in a potted container located ina plant nursery setting.

FIG. 2—illustrates a close enlarged view of the attractive very fullconfigured red blossoms with a newly-opened blossom being shown at thetop and a mature fully-opened blossom at the bottom on a plant growingin a nursery setting.

FIG. 3—illustrates a specimen of an open flower and a specimen of a bud;dimensions in centimeters are indicated at the bottom of the photograph.

FIG. 4—illustrates two specimens of open flowers—top view; dimensions incentimeters are indicated at the bottom of the photograph.

FIG. 5—illustrates a specimen of a bud and a specimen of an openflower—side view; dimensions in centimeters are indicated at the rightof the photograph.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of the colors is that of The RoyalHorticultural Society (“R.H.S.”) (R.H.S. Colour Chart, 2007 Edition).The description is based on the observation of plants 1.5 years of ageduring July of 2017 while growing outdoors on their own roots atVineland Research and Innovations Centre Inc., located at VinelandStation, Ontario Canada.

-   Class: Shrub Rose Variety ‘AAC576’.-   Plant:    -   -   Growth habit.—upright and bushy.        -   Height.—approximately 46 cm on average.        -   Width.—approximately 42 cm on average.-   Branches:    -   -   Color.—commonly near Yellow-Green Group 146B on young stems            and commonly near Yellow-Green Group 144A on mature            stems/old wood.        -   Thorns.—young thorn: length is approximately 3 mm on average            and color is commonly near Red-Purple Group 59A. mature            thorn: length is approximately 4-8 mm on average and color            is commonly near Red-Purple Group 59A.-   Foliage:    -   -   General appearance.—medium green with a glossy finish.        -   Number of leaflets.—commonly 5-7.        -   Terminal leaflet size.—approximately 3.7 cm on average in            length and approximately 3.2 cm on average in width.        -   Lower leaflet size.—approximately 2.7 cm on average in            length and approximately 1.5 cm on average in width.        -   Overall leaf size.—approximately 10.8 cm on average in            length and approximately 6.9 cm on average in width.-   Leaflets:    -   -   Shape.—ovate.        -   Margin type.—serrate.        -   Texture.—smooth.        -   Color.—young leaflet: upper surface is commonly near            Greyed-Brown Group N199C and under surface is commonly            Greyed-Red Group 178A. mature leaflet: upper surface is            commonly near Green Group N137C and under surface is            commonly near Yellow-Green Group 147B.        -   Vein.—pattern: pinnate, cross-venulate. color commonly near            Yellow-Green Group 144A.        -   Stipules.—size: length is approximately 18 mm on average and            diameter is approximately 12 mm on average. color commonly            near Green Group 137B. margin: spiny. texture: smooth.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Number of blossoms per cluster.—commonly 2-6 on average.        -   Typical number of blossoms per plant.—commonly 8-10 on            average.        -   Bloom season.—commonly June to October.        -   Peduncle.—color commonly near Yellow-Green Group 144A. size:            length is approximately 2.6 cm on average and width is            approximately 2.5 mm on average.        -   Sepal.—size: length is approximately 2.6 cm on average and            width is approximately 8 mm on average. color upper surface            is commonly near Yellow-Green Group 146B may have            anthocyanin near Greyed-Purple Group 1878; under surface is            commonly near Green Group 138B. number commonly 5. margin            type: weak to medium extensions.        -   Bud.—shape: deltoid. size: length is approximately 2.85 cm            on average and diameter is approximately 1.45 cm on average.        -   Flower.—form: very full. petal number approximately 29 on            average. petal size: approximately 2.9 cm on average in            length and approximately 2.6 cm on average in width. petal            shape: generally round with an obcordate apex and a round            base. petal margin type: entire. petal drop: drop clean.            size: approximately 6.2 cm on average in diameter and            approximately 2.8 cm on average in depth. color when            opening: outermost petal upper surface is commonly near Red            Group 53C and outermost petal lower surface is commonly near            Red Group 45B. color when fully open: upper surface is            commonly near Red Group 45B and white at base attachment            point; and lower surface is commonly near Red Group 53C.            fragrance: weak. stamen number approximately 50 on average.            anther approximately 2.6 mm on average in length, sagittate            in shape, and color is commonly near Greyed-Orange Group            N167D. filament: approximately 4 mm on average in length and            commonly near Yellow Group 11A in color. pistil number:            approximately 68 on average. stigma: length commonly varies            from 2 mm to 7 mm, shape is discoid, and color is commonly            near Yellow Group 10B. style: length is approximately 3.5 mm            on average and color is commonly pale yellow to pale pink.        -   Receptacle.—shape: globular size: length is approximately            5.2 mm on average and width is approximately 7.9 mm on            average. color commonly near Yellow-Green Group 144A with            weak anthocyanin.        -   Hips/seed.—occasionally present.-   Development:    -   -   Vegetation.—vigorous.        -   Blooming.—repeat blooming; abundant and substantially            continuous.        -   Resistance to diseases.—Very tolerant to powdery mildew            Sphaerotheca pannosa, downy mildew Peronospora sparsa, rust            Phragmidium spp., Cercosprora rosicola, and black spot            Diplocarpon rosae as a potted plant under normal growing            conditions.

The new ‘AAC576’ variety has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that thephenotypic expression may vary somewhat with changes in light intensityand duration, cultural practices, and other environmental conditions.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct shrub rose plant characterized by thefollowing combination of characteristics: (a) abundantly andsubstantially continuously forms attractive very full red blossoms, (b)exhibits an upright and bushy growth habit, (c) forms attractive mediumgreen foliage with a glossy finish that contrasts well with the redblossom coloration, and (d) is well suited for growing as attractiveornamentation in the landscape; substantially as herein shown anddescribed.